The former prominent investment broker Mr Tony Taylor appeared in court yesterday on 15 fraud-related charges following his earlier extradition from Britain.
Mr Taylor (52) was remanded in custody until next Thursday during a brief hearing at Dublin District Court, adjacent to Bridewell Garda Station.
His court appearance came more than two hours after he was arrested upon arrival at Dublin Airport off an Aer Lingus flight from London.
Mr Taylor was escorted on the journey by two Garda detectives, who took custody of him from English police at Gatwick Airport yesterday. He had been held at Lewes Prison, East Sussex, since his arrest last August.
Mr Taylor had been fighting his extradition until two weeks ago.
Mr Taylor sat calmly during the five-minute hearing as Det Garda Kevin Monks from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation told the court about the details of his arrest.
Det Garda Monks said he took Mr Taylor into custody at Gatwick Airport at 10.23 a.m. yesterday. Upon arrival in Dublin Airport at 12.10 p.m., he arrested Mr Taylor on foot of 15 warrants issued last August.
Det Garda Monks said he read each warrant to Mr Taylor, who made no reply when cautioned.
He said he then brought Mr Taylor to Bridewell Garda Station where he charged him and cautioned him. "He replied `no' to all charges," said Det Garda Monks.
Mr Taylor was dressed casually. His greying hair was tightly cut and he wore large metal-rimmed glasses.
He sat in court leaning slightly forward on the bench, his hands folded in front of him.
Ms Claire Galligan from the State Solicitor's Office told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed a trial on each of the charges before Mr Taylor.
Mr Taylor's solicitor, Mr Padraig Ferry, applied for his client to be remanded in custody and said he did not propose to apply for bail.
Judge Thomas Fitzpatrick remanded Mr Taylor in custody until next Thursday, February 3rd, at the same court. He will be held at Mountjoy Prison.
Earlier, Mr Taylor had stepped off an Aer Lingus flight, wearing no handcuffs and accompanied by two detectives from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. He was the last passenger to leave the plane and carried his belongings in a black bin bag.
